MUSCATINE, Iowa — When Betty Wilson heard a varietal concert of classical music would be presented in Muscatine Sunday evening, she was pleased and surprised.

“I’ve never heard of a performance like this in Muscatine,” said Wilson, 82, of Muscatine.

Remarks similar to Wilson’s were repeated among the approximately 250 people who attended the “Be a PatriART” benefit concert at Wesley United Methodist Church Sunday evening.

 “Be a PatriART: Celebrate the Arts & Culture in Muscatine,” is a first-time six-day event that invites area residents to take part in this city’s arts, cultural and historical offerings. The PatriART event is sponsored by the Muscatine Cultural Alliance, a subgroup of the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The benefit concert, which was punctuated with several instances of prolonged applause,  featured Muscatine soprano Marie Press; organist John Chappell Stowe of Wisconsin; pianist, Joshua Russell of Iowa City; and The Muscatine Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Brian Dollinger.

Proceeds from the concert went to the Muscatine Cultural Alliance, The Muscatine Symphony Orchestra, the Pearl City Players Theatrical Society, and the upcoming performance of, “Muscatine! the Musical,” an original production created by Marie and her husband Peter Press with music by Peter and Dan Warschauer of Muscatine.

“I think it’s a good investment,” said Corita McCormac, 86, of Muscatine, referring to the $35 ticket price. 

The concert program, developed by Marie and Peter, included some of the Press’ favorite music as well as original work.

Peter said he and Marie have been planning the concert since August 2006 and he had planned to play the pipe organ, but side effects from the chemotherapy he takes to battle cancer caused him to forego his performance.

Those circumstances did not prevent him from making a significant contribution to the program.

In the second half of the concert, Marie sang “No Matter How Far,” one of the songs Peter wrote for “Muscatine the Musical,” in a performance underscored with tangible sense of deep fondness.

Marie’s performance of the spiritual, “Good News,” arranged by New York music producer and composer Robert Sadin, brought another element of personal connection to the show.

Sadin and the Press family have developed a personal and professional relationship as Sadin has been handling the orchestration of “Muscatine! the Musical.”

Sadin created the arrangement of “Good News” for opera singer Kathleen Battle’s Carnegie Hall debut and Marie’s Sunday performance marked the second time the arrangement was part of a public performance.

The first half of the program featured a new piece commissioned by the Presses for the concert. The composition for organ and voice titled “In Eternity/In Æternum,” is an arrangement by Jonathan Chenette, who teaches music composition and serves as associate dean at Grinnell College.

A solo performance by  Stowe, a professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison, followed. Stowe played an eclectic sequence of musical styles titled “3 Dances,” by Calvin Hampton.

The first half of the concert concluded with a series of art songs, which are poems set to music.

Stowe offered another solo in the second half of the concert, “Final from Symphonie VIII” by Charles-Marie Widor, 1844-1937.

Stowe’s performance preceded the closing number, “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, “The Sound of Music.” The Muscatine Symphony Orchestra accompanied Marie on this song.

Audience member Bev Weber, 74, of rural Muscatine, said she came to the concert because she enjoys many different kinds of music, and promotion for the concert described a variety of elements for voice and instrument.

Otis Armstrong of Muscatine said the different musical styles made the concert enjoyable.

“It’s varied enough to offer something for everyone no matter what age,” said Armstrong, 63. “It’s very melodic and I think Muscatine is very fortunate to have this broad a base of talent in the community.”

 The concert will be rebroadcast on the local, public access channel. Broadcast times were unavailable as of press time.

The Presses dedicated the concert to Peter’s love for his family, his deep appreciation for his life and friendships and his dedication to the community.

Contact Cynthia Beaudette at 563-262-0527 or cynthia.beaudette@muscatinejournal.com

Today

Today’s PatriART installment features two free, public events at Pearl City Station on Muscatine’s Riverfront.

6 p.m. — The Brass Quartet, Muscatine Symphony Orchestra, featuring Lowell Sundermann, Muscatine, principal trombonist for the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra; Gary McCurdy, Washington, Iowa, tuba; Dick Marr, Muscatine, second trombone and Dan Nelson, Moline, Ill., baritone.

7 p.m. — Silent movies presented by the Muscatine County Arts Council. Films from the period 1895-1925 will be presented with piano accompaniment by Sue Walker and commentary by Mike Zahs.